RESTORATION AND CONSERVATION OF FORESTS 483 



Whether the United States is admin- which do not belong to it, and it shall 

 istering its forests in the best manner seek to possess them, the state must 

 possible to produce the fullest yield, is purchase them of the owners by agree- 

 not a point that need now be consid- ment, or exercise its right of eminent 

 ered. If it is not. that certainly can domain and pay such sums 'therefor as 

 be remedied; but those who anticipate may be adjudged under legal process, 

 larger returns from government lands In either case, the cost would, no doubt, 

 must bear in mind that most of the be prohibitive. There may be those 

 timber lands owned by it are in moun- who would favor such proceedings at 

 tainous regions, where intensive for- any cost, but they should remember that 

 estry will he found extremely difficult, no matter who owns them, such for- 

 if not impossible, and that much of ests must be harvested in the near fu- 

 the present stand must be maintained ture to supply the demand for forest 

 intact in order to preserve the water- products, nor should the power of emi- 

 sheds of the rivers that are to be used nent domain be tyrannically invoked, 

 for irrigation. Of course, the govern- So it will be seen that there is little 

 ment may possibly increase its forest probability that many states will secure 

 area by planting trees where none now productive forests to any appreciable 

 are, and it is gratifying to know that extent. However, the state of New 

 vigorous efforts are being made in that York has purchased quite a large area 

 direction. But it must be understood of such forests, but not one tree therein 

 that the forest trees of the Great West can be cut until the state's constitution 

 are not suited for all locations. In shall be amended ; while Pennsylvania, 

 fact, the most important ones have been New Jersey, and Minnesota, and possi- 

 found to flourish only in their natural bly one or two other states, have se- 

 habitat. cured some lands upon which there is 



Notwithstanding that government a young growth coming on, and from 

 ownership of our timber lands seems which a small amount of timber can 

 inconsiderable, it may appear in a dif- soon be harvested ; but, in the main, 

 ferent light when we compare it with we must wait until forests grow. A 

 that of European nations where the change of ownership will help little; 

 crown and state of the German Empire the need of the hour Is more forests, 

 own but thirty-three per cent of the Therefore, about all that can be con- 

 productive forests within her borders, sistently and profitably be done by the 

 the government of France thirteen, and states in their governmental capacity is 

 the crown and state of xA.ustria seven ; to purchase land now practically de- 

 and that, too, where forestry has been void of forests and grow new ones 

 svstematicallv carried on for more than thereon, and when grown, to so con- 

 150 years. But for all this, it must not serve them that they will yield a con- 

 be inferred that anv thought is enter- tinuous supply; and this also brings up 

 tained that the United States govern- the question of ownership and exploita- 

 ment should not do all reasonable things tion of natural resources by state gov- 

 within' its power to maintain our for- ernments, quite the same as in the case 

 ests in perpetual usefulness, for it cer- of forests owned by the national gov- 

 tainly should ; but that is not the ques- ernment. That the states should own 

 tion under consideration. We are dis- and manage forests to a limited extent 

 cussing only its ability to do. will, doubtless, be conceded by most 



When we consider the part that our economists, and possibly some would 

 state governments can and should take set no limit ; but that question need not 

 in caring for the forests we find a here be discussed any more than be- 

 somewhat different condition. Few fore, for conditions govern here as well, 

 states now hold land by sovereign right, and put a limit beyond which it ap- 

 as does the United States government, pears impracticable if not impossible 

 Nearly all the older states disposed of to go; and we must accept such con- 

 their original possessions long ago. If ditions and do the best we can. There 

 there exist, within any State, forests are some states in which there is com- 



